Biker Speak: Difference between revisions

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There two kinds of non-collision motorcycle crashes. A "lowside" happens when the bike is leaned over so far that the tires no longer grip the road and the bike falls on its side. This is the better kind of accident, since the rider has a short distance to the pavement and can gently slide to a halt (you do wear protective gear, right?).

A "highside" is when the bike's front or rear tire loses traction and suddenly regains it with one of the wheels out of the line of travel. The bike reacts with a whip-like action, spitting the rider off the "high side". This is bad, as the rider is usually catapulted off the bike at a higher speed than he or she was traveling, sometimes in a high arc, resulting in tumbling/bouncing/flopping. This is where the worst injuries occur, and why we wear good-quality, CE approved armor in our protective clothing (you wear protective ~~clothing~~, right?).

A "highside" is when the bike's front or rear tire loses traction and suddenly regains it with one of the wheels out of the line of travel. The bike reacts with a whip-like action, spitting the rider off the "high side". This is bad, as the rider is usually catapulted off the bike at a higher speed than he or she was traveling, sometimes in a high arc, resulting in tumbling/bouncing/flopping. This is where the worst injuries occur, and why we wear good-quality, CE approved armor in our protective clothing (you do wear protective gear, right?).

How do we avoid highsides and lowsides? By making smooth, gentle control and steering inputs, maintaining headbearings and suspensions, having good quality, serviceable tires, and not riding overpowered bikes like R1's.

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 There two kinds of non-collision motorcycle crashes. A "lowside" happens when the bike is leaned over so far that the tires no longer grip the road and the bike falls on its side. This is the better kind of accident, since the rider has a short distance to the pavement and can gently slide to a halt (you do wear protective gear, right?).
-A "highside" is when the bike's front or rear tire loses traction and suddenly regains it with one of the wheels out of the line of travel. The bike reacts with a whip-like action, spitting the rider off the "high side". This is bad, as the rider is usually catapulted off the bike at a higher speed than he or she was traveling, sometimes in a high arc, resulting in tumbling/bouncing/flopping. This is where the worst injuries occur, and why we wear good-quality, CE approved armor in our protective clothing (you wear protective clothing, right?).
+A "highside" is when the bike's front or rear tire loses traction and suddenly regains it with one of the wheels out of the line of travel. The bike reacts with a whip-like action, spitting the rider off the "high side". This is bad, as the rider is usually catapulted off the bike at a higher speed than he or she was traveling, sometimes in a high arc, resulting in tumbling/bouncing/flopping. This is where the worst injuries occur, and why we wear good-quality, CE approved armor in our protective clothing (you do wear protective gear, right?).
 How do we avoid highsides and lowsides? By making smooth, gentle control and steering inputs, maintaining headbearings and suspensions, having good quality, serviceable tires, and not riding overpowered bikes like R1's.